Man overboard: personnel transfers by swing rope and personnel basket

The United States’ Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has published Safety Alert 331 on personnel transfers using swing rope and personnel basket. It relates to a swing rope transfer in the Gulf of Mexico between a platform and a boat, when a person fell into the sea. The person was recovered swiftly by a small boat but was injured and subsequently diagnosed with a torn ligament in his elbow requiring surgery.

BSEE subsequently revisited incident data to determine the frequency of personnel transfer incidents in 2017. The safety alert covers a number of recent incidents

What actions were taken? What lessons were learned?

Due to the frequency of personnel transfer events noted, and their potential consequences, BSEE made recommendations which are summarised thus:

• Review the BSEE safety alert with all personnel who transfer to facilities via swing rope or personnel baskets;
• Before personnel transfer, inspect and test all hardware associated with the operation and report any deficiencies found;
• Stress the significance of patience, weather and sea conditions, and the use of the ‘stop work authority’;
• Consider developing fitness for duty requirements for personnel involved in transfers.

Safety Alert 331 can be found on the BSSE website.

Members may wish to refer to Guidance on the transfer of personnel to and from offshore vessels and structures

Members may also wish to refer to the following similar incidents:

• Injury during personnel transfer capsule operation
• Fatality during basket transfer